Dilator



Sept. 20, 1932. J w KENNEDY 1,877,766

DILATOR Filed May 15. L931 INVENTOR. V A James lK/aenned ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 20, 1932 JAMES W. KENNEDY, OF CANTON, OHIO :oILA'ronApplication fiIed May 13,

This invention relates to improvements in dilators and more particularlyto an instrument for expanding the sphincter muscles in the rectum. Thisinvention is an improvement of my co-pending application, Serial Number487,042, filed October 7, 1930. i

The principleobject of the invention is to provide a device of thisnature which will expand the sphincter muscles of the rectum withoutcausing friction and without Cltl11- age and pain.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device fortreating constipation, piles, poor circulation and other rectaldiseases.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will expandthe rectum throughout its length in an even and uniform manner.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an instrument ofthis character consisting of a tube made from pliable material andadapted to be inserted in the rectum and a plug for expanding the wallof said tube.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an instrument "ofthis kind com prising a pliable tube adapted to fit in the rectum, aseries of wire guides longitudinally disposed in said tube and a plugfor forcing said wire guides and the wall of the tube outwardly.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to support thedilator on the body of the patient.

Another object of the invention is to prevent a pressure and suctionbeing formed when operating the dilator.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the disclosure progresses.The drawing is intended to merely indicate a possible embodiment of theinvention. It is obvious that the actual needs of manufacture maynecessitate certain mechanical changes. It is therefore not intended tolimit the invention to the embodiment illustrated, but rather to definesuch limits in the appended claims.

For a more general understanding of the invention attention is called tothe drawing. In this drawing like reference char- 1931. Serial NO.537,172.

actors denote like parts throughout the speci fication.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dilator shown attached to a beltwhich is worn at the waistline of the patient.

Figure 2 is a front view of a patient showing the belt attached to thebody of thepatient.

Figure 3 is a back view of a patient with belt attached. 1

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the dilator in operation.

Figure 5 is a sectional longitudinal view of the dilator.

.Figure 6 is an enlarged section on line 66 of Figure 5. V

Figure 7 is a section on line 77 of F igure 5.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the rubber disk. 70

Figure 9 is a detail showing a portion of the guide wires in place.

Figures 10 and 11 are views of different size plugs.

Referring now to the drawing in. detail numeral 1 designates the tubemade from soft pliable material such as rubber. The tube is closed atthe top and at the bottom thereof there is provided a flange 2 whichfits into a groove 3 of the disk 4. This disk is made of sponge rubberand is cemented in a cavity 5 of thecup 6 which is also made of rubber.Running parallel with the tube are two sets of wire guides 7 and 8 thebottom ends of which are bent at right angles as at 9 and fit in theradially disposed slots 10 of the disk 1 as clearly shown in Figures 7and 8. The tops are rigidly tied together in a manner as follows.Numeral 11 designates a short section of a rubber tube. Fitting in thecentral bore thereof is the bent over end 12 of one of the sets offifteen guide wires 8. Fitting over the collection of the wires 7 is arubber sleeve 13 and spaced around this sleeve are the other set offifteen of the guide wires indicated by numeral 8. Tightly fitting overthis structure is a rubber thimble 14 which rigidly ties the ends of theWires 7 and 8 together. The purpose of bending the end 12 of one of thewires 8 and passing the end into the bore of the tube 11 is to lock thetube 11 and sleeve 13 and prevent them from working loose. Around thisstructure is placed the pliable tube 1.

In Figure 9 is illustrated the method of assembling the guide wires. Theset of wires 7 is shown inserted in the sleeve 13 while for the sake ofclearness, only two of the set of wires 8 are shown surrounding theoutside of the sleeve. The rest of the wires will obviously be placed inposition to complete'assemblage. The wire 8 at'the left has its top endbent over and fitting into the bore of the tube as heretofore described,1

In the center of cup 6 is a tapered hole 15 for allowing theplugs 16 and17 to enter the interior of the dilator. Fastened to the cup are a pairof eyes18 through which pass the cords 19 which are tied to the belt 20to be worn around the Waist of the patient.

The operation ofthis device is as follows: the tube is first placed inthe rectum and one of the plugs 16 or 17 is inserted therein. As

the plug moves inwardly the tube will GX'V pand and enlarge the membraneof the rec tum. As statedheretofore the tube is made from pliablematerial so it can readily expand without any undue strain of theoperator. The plug does not come in contact with the wall of the tubebut slides on the wire guides 7 and 8 and as the guides spread outwardlythe tube distends correspondingly. By this arrangement an even expansionof the tube is brought out. Otherwise there would always be a sharpdifference in the diameter of the tube between the part which is alreadyfilled up with the plug and the part which is not. The portion of thetube which is filled up with the plug would naturally be larger indiameter while at the end of the plug there would be a markedrestriction in the diameter of the tube.-

The plugs are tapered at the ends 21 and bulge out in the center 22. A'variety of size plugs can be used to suitthe needs of the patient. ofthe plugs are longitudinal bores 23. The reason for these bores is toprevent a suction or pressure forming when operating the div lator.

The purpose of providing the means to attach the device to the body ofthe wearer is to enable the patient to be treated without anyinterference and'while engaged in his regular business activities. Thedevice can be carried around and worn without any discomfort to thepatient. The dilators can be made of various sizes to suit the needs ofthe patient. The base of the dilators are made of two sections 4 and 6and cemented together by the cement 24 forming a unitary structure. THaving described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a pliable tube, a set of wireguides. running longitu- R-unning through the center dinally in saidtube, the forward ends of said wires tied together, the rear ends ofsaid wires bent over, a disk, a cup shaped housing for said disk, saidbent over portions of the wires fitting between said disk and cup shapedhousing. I 2. In a device of the class described, a pliable tube, a setof wire guides running longitudinally in said tube, the forward ends ofsaid wires tied together, the rear ends of said n; wires bent over, adisk having a circular groove, a cup shaped housing for said disk havinga circular groove, a cup shaped housingv for said disk, said bent overportions of the wires fitting between said disk and cup go shapedhousing, said tube having a flange at its rear end and fitting into saidgroove.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tube, a setof guide wires in said tube, the lower ends of said wires being :5 bent,a disk-having radially spaced grooves,

a cup shaped housing for said disk, said bent ends of the wires fittinginto said grooves.

4. In a device of the class described, a set of guide wires, a sleevefor tieing the upper 'ID ends of said wires together, the lower ends ofsaid wires embedded in a base, one of said wires being looped over atthe top and fitting in said sleeve.

5. In a device of the class described, a set '08 of guide wires, asleeve for tieing the upper endsof said wires together, the lower endsof said wires embedded in a base, one of said wires being looped over atthe top and fitting in said sleeve, and'a pliable tube surrounding 1said wires.

